I found this report today: "....... Let's start with some analysis from Igor Mangovski, who is the international correspondent for NEWS@Hoopsworld.com: "Yao Ming averaged 21 points during the Four Nations Tournament in Taiyuan. Considering that the games were played by the FIBA rules (4X10 minutes), Yao's play had to encourage the Rockets hopes for the next season. After all, he showcased his skills against some of the biggest names in international competition. Australia, Italy and Yugoslavia all had important roles historically in numerous World Championships and the Olympics. However, Yao's numbers do not tell the whole story. Italian and Yugoslav teams both sent their third tier players to play in the tournament in order to rest their best players after the tiresome seasons and to possibly unearth a hidden gem among the obscure players in the process. Yugoslav team did not feature any player taller than 6-10 and not a single center available to guard the 7-5 Chinese center. The only distantly prominent player on the Yugoslav roster is Ognjen Askrabic, who went undrafted last year, and was rumored to sign a contract with the Mavericks this summer. No wonder Yao scored 28 points in the game. Italian team, however, had a legitimate 7-footer in the Benetton Treviso center, Denis Marconato. Marconato, a former teammate of the Rockets' draftee Bostjan Nachbar, is a very slow-footed center, in the Sixers' Todd McCullough's mold. The result was expected - Ming dominated the game scoring 27 points. However, Ming was completely shut down against the only player with any kind of NBA experience in front of him. Of course, the Australian center Chris Anstey, earned his way out of the League long ago, but he still outplayed Yao as he scored 22 points while holding the Chinese star to only 9 points. The four teams traveled to Guangzhou, where another tournament is to be organized. It should be interesting to watch how Ming will react to the defenses adapting to his game and if he'll still be able to dominate the interior." .......... Whole story: http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_465.shtml I remembered that Yugoslavian team had two 7 footers. One is 7-1, one is 7-3. And I posted the picture of that guy with Yao Ming. Am I wrong?
If these other countries didn't even send their best players to the tournament than why did China insist that Yao Ming participate? They should have let him attend the draft. That would have been great if Yao could have been in NY to shake David Stern's hand. I'm not to worried about Chris Anstey playing better one game. Yao was in foul trouble and on the Rockets the whole team won't be able focus in on Yao like Australia did. Thanks for the info windandsea. You come up with alot of great information.
Because the Chinese national sports establishment is bent on increasing their athletic prestige, which means winning tournaments any way they can. As the world's most populous nation, there is a lot of internal pressure for chinese teams to do well, especially with the Beijing Olympics on the horizon. At least that is the standard western take on the situation.
Ming is ours and I am rooting for him, but I really fear that he is going to suck. If he can't keep Antsy from scoring 20 points he won't be able to stop Ostertag, McCollugh and other stiffs. I think his usfulness wil be limited to outside shooting. I am excited about the high pick and roll, but not much else. Maybe Ming will be our small forward of the future. I have the horrible fear that is where his game is. Please let me be wrong!
Seems like I remember an article saying Ming was being double and tripled teamed. I'm sure he was the focus of most team's defensive schemes. As stated above NBA teams won't have that luxury.
No, I don't think you are wrong windandsea...it's just propoganda being put out by the Hoopsworld.com staff, one of the worst basketball sites out there. No one there has much liked Ming or thought he would ever amount to anything in the NBA, and even beyond Ming they essentially are uninformed and make up a lot of what they report on, attempting to spread it as fact. Thanks for the info - but I would take their commentary with a grain of salt.
Don't assume that " rocket guy" is a rockets fan or expert. Most people knew he was an idiot. Hoopsworld sucks with that idiot.
In the 2nd game, all the Austrialian centers (3 of them I think) fouled out while trying to guard Ming. Chris Anstey had 4 points if I remember it correctly.
Yes these are not professional sports writers. They are regular sports fans just like anyone who frequents these boards. They tend to form opinions about players and their articles reflect that opinion. TRG and most people at Hoopsworld were against drafting Ming from the beginning. Therefore their articles usually depict Ming in a negative manner. It will be interesting to see how they respond if or when Ming becomes a dominant player in the NBA.
DAmn, If an aussie center can hold Yao to 9 pts and drop 22 on yao. What the hell does that say about Yao's defense? I keep hearing hot and cold about Yao.
According to the news, Ming had foul trouble early in that game and he didn't play much. Bateer was injured and didn't play at all. So I dont know who was guarding that aussie center when he scored the 22 points. Anyway, Ming bounced back in the 2nd game. All the three aussie centers fouled out while trying to guard him. That same aussie center had 4 points when Ming played most of that 2nd game. I hope you feel better now.
even a blind squirrel finds a nut. YOu have to look at the whole game and not just the stats from the game.
